History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 90

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 90

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About the time Aaron Cory located in the township, George Myers and Joshua Chilcote also came in and built their cabins. Myers purchased the land where New Washington now stands, and afterward became closely identified with the early history of that village. Chilcote located about a mile and a half south- east of New Washington. He had come from one of the Eastern States a few years before, and had settled in Columbiana County, Ohio ; but, when his land there arose considerably in value, he sold out and came farther into the unsettled forest in order to purchase a larger tract of land with the money at his disposal. He had five sons-John, Nicodemus, James, Joshua and Heathcote-and two or three daughters. These children married and settled in the neighborhood of their father's farm, and afterward became prominent citizens. The father was a man of great energy and decision of character. He served at different times in nearly all the township offices, and was influ- ential in opening up many of the early roads. His descendants are yet living in neighboring counties. A young man named " Oak" Tyn- dal married one of his daughters in about 1827. This was probably the first marriage in the township. Two years later, a young Teu- ton named Zipsie came to Squire Boner and asked for explicit directions as to the modus operandi of getting married. Boner informed him of the legal steps necessary, and, about

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

two days afterward, early in the morning, be- fore the Squire had left his bed, the young fel- low again presented himself, accompanied by his " future happiness," and said he had come to get married. The Squire "tied the knot," and the happy couple departed. About a week afterward, as Boner was weeding his garden, Zipsie appeared and came up to him with face wreathed in smiles. He shook the Squire cordially by the hand, and exclaimed, "Wie gehts, Mishter Boner, wie gehts ! you did got me a firsh shtrate wife dot time." The Squire congratulated the happy fellow, and in- formed him that married life was always the happier, to which Zipsie warmly assented.

James Boner, who served many years as Jus- tice of the Peace, settled in southern Cranberry about 1828. He was an intelligent man, and did much in after years to render the township an inviting locality for settlers. Jacob Shafer, Jacob Boyer, Christopher Faulk and one or two others established themselves near New Wash- ington in 1830. Three years later, a large German emigration arrived and located in dif- ferent parts of the township. Among those who came were George Donnenwirth, George Klein, Warner Raug, Joseph Worst, John, William and Armstrong Irwin, William and Arthur Tildon, William Scott, William Hoover, Henry Koehler, George Seifert, George Seiter, Jacob Sangloff, Fred Weaver, Timothy McCarty, George Strohacker, Michael Hartneck, Adam High, John Robinson and many others. Nearly all these settlers came directly from Germany to Cranberry Township. As far as possible, they chose the higher lands, but many of them built their cabins on the ridges that rose almost like islands from the swamps. They seemed to have a reckless disregard for ague and the various types of malarial diseases. With no hope of seeing the land drained for twenty or thirty years, they went to work to let in the sunlight, and to let out the stagnant water. After many years, this course brought the desired result,

but not without all the accompanying hardships and self-denials. The settlers were quiet, un. obtrusive and industrious. The cranberry marsh furnished an abundant harvest of berries, and it also furnished to those of sufficient skill valuable returns in the way of furs. The cran- berries grew on short stems on the under side of long, wiry vines that crept over the mosses and sedges growing in profusion in the marsh. The vines did not grow on the dry ridges, but sought the wet grounds, often growing out of the mud, which was covered with several inches of water. Cranberry picking was extensively en- gaged in by all the neighboring settlers, many of whom made no little money in the business. In 1824, the berries sold for 20 and 25 cents per bushel. They steadily increased in value, the market for them always being active. In 1835, they were worth 75 cents per bushel, and, in 1850, had arisen to about $2. Those gathering the berries-men and women-wore long- legged boots to keep out the water, and as a precaution against snake-bites. A section of plank, from a foot and a half to two feet long, and about a foot wide, was taken, and around one end was bound a tough band of hickory bark, forming a sort of box. The other end of the plank was serrated, the teeth being about eight inches long. Two handles were attached, and the rude implement thus com- pleted was used in gathering cranberries. The teeth were placed over one of the long, slender vines, and the implement was held so that, when it was pushed along, the berries were scooped into the box at the other end. Fifteen or twenty bushels were often gathered in one day with this implement. The cranberry season began the latter part of September and lasted nearly two months ; or, rather. it lasted all winter and the next spring. But few were gathered in the winter, however, owing to their being frozen in the ice. As soon as the ice had thawed in the spring, the gathering began again, and the berries obtained at this season

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

were considered better than those gathered in the fall. as less sugar was required to prepare them for the table. Whole families turned out during the cranberry season, and the marsh swarmed with settlers, some of whom came many miles and remained several days, camp- ing in their wagons. When a sufficient quantity of berries was gathered to fill the wagon-bed, they were taken to Sandusky, or some other city, and sold. Some families, desiring to make the most of the marslı, picked day and night while the season lasted. The berries were heaped on some dry mound near by, and a member of the family was detailed to guard and clean them, while the remaining members picked as fast as they could. Although hun- dreds of bushels grew in the marsh, they were usually all gathered long before the season had closed. Several incidents are related where the gatherers were severely bitten by rattlesnakes, though no cases are recollected where death re- sulted from the bite, except, perhaps, the death of the snake, an inevitable result of the reptile's indiscretion. Joseph Smith and Robert Hilburn were one day picking in the marsh, when they were startled by a piercing scream near them, and, glancing quickly around, saw a woman, dis- tant about twenty rods, throw her arms wildly in the air and sink fainting upon the ground. They ran to her assistance, and, as there happened to be no water near, Robert plunged his arm down into the mud, forming a well after a small pat- tern, which was quickly filled with muddy water. This was dashed copiously in the face of the unconscious woman, who soon revived. She said she had been bitten by a rattlesnake, and showed a small wound just above the ankle. The flesh had already begun to swell, and Smith took from his pocket quite a quan- tity of "dogleg " tobacco, and, having moist- ened a moderately large "quid," applied it to the wound. After a few minutes, this was re- moved and another portion applied, and the operation was repeated until all the tobacco

had been used. The woman recovered from her nervous shock and arose to her feet. She had had enough of cranberry picking that day, and started for home. Her name has been for- gotten. After she left, a large rattlesnake was killed about a rod from where she had fallen. It was evidently the same one that had bitten her. In 1855, the marsh had become so dry that cranberries no longer grew there in paying quantities. It must be remembered that cranberries, when first gathered, were full of leaves, moss and grass, and had to be cleaned before they were taken to market. A sort of ladder was made, having the cross pieces about an inch apart. When emptied upon this rude seive, the berries fell through the slits, and the grass, etc., was collected on the slats. Large quantities of berries were cleaned in a few hours by means of this rude sereen.

Nothing in the way of saw or grist-mills, tanneries, manufactories, schools, villages, or churches, was established until after 1830. Prior to that time, flour and meal were obtained about twenty miles north on the Huron River, except, perhaps, small quantities, which were obtained at the horse-mills-two or three-in Auburn Township. Household supplies were obtained at stores in Huron and Richland Counties, or, after 1823, at Bucyrus. Some where about the year 1836, Nicodemus Chil- cote built a log grist-mill on Broken Knife Creek, in the northwestern part. Quite a sub- stantial dam was made by piling logs and brush into the bed of the stream in the fall of the year, when but little water was flowing. Upon the brush and logs, large quantities of earth, as stony as could be found, were heaped, and the whole dam was strongly braced by logs being driven in a standing position in the ground and resting against the lower frame- work of the structure. Large quantities of water were collected and used economically as fast as grain was brought to be ground.

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The usual "nigger-head " stones were used, and it is said that quite a superior article of flour was furnished. How long the mill remained in operation is uncertain. It proba- bly ran six or seven years. Mr. Chilcote also operated a saw-mill at the same time. The two mills were on opposite sides of the race, and both were built of logs, although the grist- mill was quite a large building. Both stopped running about the same time. Jefferson Wal- lace began making cabinet-ware in the southern part, as early as 1842. Many of the citizens procured useful articles of household furniture from him. The furniture was usually made of the best walnut timber, and was substantially, rather than artistically, made. But little in the way of mechanical work was done outside of New Washington.

The earliest settlers went to meeting, and sent their children to school, in Auburn Township. It is difficult to realize the trials under which the early settlers labored. When a husband and wife, having a large family of almost helpless children, leave the enjoy- ments and protection of settled localities and branch out into the forests for a home, where no white foot has yet pressed, and, from the unending swamps and heavy woods, endeavor to make a living, an heroic courage is shown which is rarely seen in the present age of " sickly sentimentality." Such a course requires a superior courage-a courage that is repaid in nothing but self-sacrifice and self-denial. And yet settlers were happy. They became inured to poverty and kindred hardships, and the mobile characteristic of human nature to derive pleasure from any and all surroundings asserted itself. Abundant venison was obtained at first, but, after a time, this became scarce, and often the cabins contained no food for days together. Flour and meal were obtained by pilgrimages to mill on horseback, and, when thus obtained, were necessarily in such limited quantities that three or four bakings for a

large family used the whole of it, and the jour- ney had to be repeated, or the family must go without bread.

The central figure in the township, since 1833, has been the village of New Washington, which had its creation at the time of the Ger- man emigration into the township, and since then has been the principal emporium for the citizens. As previously stated, George Myers, in about 1826, purchased the land upon which the village now stands. His cabin stood near the present site of the grist-mill, and was a small, unpretentious building, constructed of round logs. He was industrious, and instead of trying to earn a living by roving the woods in quest of game, or by spending his time in endeavoring to outwit his neighbors in the cranberry business, he began to clear the tim- ber from his land, and to cut channels and trenches to convey the stagnant water into the neighboring streams. He was a short, chubby man, with heavy whiskers which stood straight out from his face, giving him the appearance, as some said, of a " chipmunk." This fancied resemblance procured for him the appellation of " Chipmunk" Myers, a name by which he was familiarly and universally known. He was very energetic, and, in time, broke himself down with hard work. By 1833, he had about thirty acres cleared, fenced and under cultiva- tion, part of which is now the business center of New Washington. On the 3d of September, 1833, he secured the services of T. C. Sweney, the surveyor of Crawford County, and laid out thirty-one lots from a portion of his cleared land. He named the village New Washington, possibly appending the adjective to prevent the world from confounding his protege with a town of the same name on the Potomac. The sale of lots immediately began, but the growth of the town at first was slow. It was sufficient- ly removed from any extensive business center to insure quite a lively trade, and the result is that the town has been blessed from the first

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

with merchants who were well patronized. Thus, business men found it to their advantage to keep on hand large stocks of first-class goods. Jacob Hoover was likely the next one to erect a dwelling in the town. His cabin was located near the northern limits, and, like that of Myers, was built of round logs. Hoover's hab- its differed materially from those of Myers. He was a great hunter, and, like his brother Nimrod, looked down upon work as degrading in its tendency. He probably came to the township a short time before 1830. In 1835 or 1836, a Mr. Hussey erected a double log cabin, and brought the first stock of goods to the town. His first stock, valued at about $800, was purchased in Sandusky City. He kept a gen- eral assortment of goods, including whisky, one of the supposed "necessities of life." In 1842, he traveled north, and, while sailing in a vessel on Lake Erie, a heavy gale arose. After sev- eral hours of struggling with the mad waters, the vessel was wrecked, and Mr. Hussey was drowned. His body was never recovered, and yet lies entombed in the silent waters of the lake. His widow continued the mercantile business after his death, and, a number of years afterward, became the wife of John A. Sheets. These old people are yet living in the town. After his marriage, Mr. Sheets increased the stock of goods left by Mr. Hussey until it was worth several thousand dollars. He filled his store with excellent goods and soon had an ex- tensive trade. He retired a number of years ago, and left his sons in charge of the business. They now have about $7,000 worth of goods. Volney Powers brought the second stock of merchandise to the town. His trade was not so extensive as that of Sheets, though he did a thriving business. His store was secondary to his ashery, which was one of the most extensive in the county. He paid cash for ashes, or gave goods from his store in exchange for them. He made it worth while for the citizens to save their ashes, which were brought to his ashery

in sacks, or loose in wagons. He continued making excellent " pearl ash " for about eight years, turning out an average of nearly fifteen tons per annum. A large farm near the town was owned by him, and men were employed to cut and burn the timber, preserving the ashes for nse at the ashery.

Store-keepers, in early times, could not de- pend wholly upon their trade for a living. They were usually compelled to engage in a variety of pursuits, while conducting their stores. They had their tanneries, asheries or farms, running them conjointly with the mer- cantile business. They ordinarily dealt in furs, often buying large quantities during the winter and shipping them to the East. Many specu- lated in wool, and, as time went on, increased their dealings, realizing failures or fortunes. These were the early conditions of affairs in New Washington. The names of many of the earliest settlers in the town have faded from the minds of the present generation. As near as can be ascertained, however, there were in 1836, about seven families living in rude log- cabins of divers patterns and sizes. Adam High was one of the early residents. He was an old man when he arrived and had considera- ble money, which was partly invested in real estate, and partly put out at interest. His cabin was probably built in 1834, and some say it was the second in the town. His son Valentine opened a blacksmith-shop in about 1837, and worked at the trade many years. He did not confine his whole time to this trade, however, but erected suitable buildings, sunk five or six vats, and began dressing skins, an occupation he followed for about eight years. The village had a population in 1840 of nearly fifty, to which scarcely no increase was made for twenty years. Though small, it was lively and prosperons. Robert Robinson was another early resident. He was a cobbler, and probably built his cabin the summer before the village was laid out. He began to manufacture shoes

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in 1834, employing three men and keeping sev- eral hundred dollars' worth of stock on hand. He was a tanner, preparing his own leather at a small building a few rods from his shoe shop. He sank five or six vats, and turned out more leather than was required in his shop, and sold the surplus in Bucyrus. In about 1845, Mat- thias Kibler bought Robinson's tannery, to- gether with all the apparatus nsed in running it. This man remained in the town until his death, a few years ago. He did as much as any other man to build up the village and peo- ple it with sober and intelligent citizens. The tannery, under his management, became the most extensive ever in the township. He had begun the business about ten years before, a mile or two south of New Washington, in a small round-log building, beginning with four vats. He steadily increased the scope of his occupation, after locating in the town, until he became widely known as a first-class tanner, and his leather commanded the highest market price in Bucyrus and neighboring towns. He took an active part in hurrying up the early school interests, and it was greatly due to his influence that the citizens arose from their lethargy in educational affairs, and erected commodious and comfortable log schoolhouses in the town, and in neighboring school districts. He served in many of the township offices, always with credit to himself. It was largely owing to his efforts that the township was early divided into school districts-eight in number -and the citizens induced to furnish their children with ample school privileges. At the time of his location in New Washington, he purchased a tract of land adjoining the town, and, in subsequent years, made an addition of lots to the original village. One of the princi- pal streets bears his name. When the addition was made, and how many lots it contained, are not remembered. Mr. Kibler was also the first Mayor. His death, a number of years ago, was greatly lamented by his friends. His son Jef-

ferson has charge of the tannery, which has about twenty vats at present, and is doing an excellent work.

In the year 1844, William H. Pratt and family came to New Washington. This man was a skillful carpenter and millwright, and has been a prominent resident of the town ever since. He erected a large work shop and be- came an extensive building contractor. Evi- dences of his design and skill are seen through- out Cranberry and adjacent townships. He was not contented with the idea of plodding through life as an ordinary workman ; and, imbued with the enviable conceit of believing himself made of "sterner stuff," he brought intelligence and natural genius to the aid of his hands. He has the reputation of having been one of the best building contractors in the county. Fifteen men were employed to work in his shops, and, for about eight years, the business was carried on extensively. At the expiration of that time, he sold out and soon afterward opened a provision store and saloon. He began dealing in furs, buying all he could obtain. In 1859, he invested over $2,500 in skins, which were shipped to Eastern cities, and large profits were realized in their sale. The business proving very profitable, he purchased several well-trained fox and coon dogs, and began an active crusade against all animals whose skins were worth taking. In the winter of 1859, by means of his dogs and traps, he caught twenty-seven mink, twenty-two red foxes, over a hundred coons and several wolves. The mink skins sold for $4 and $5 each ; coon skins for from 75 cents to $1.50 ; fox skins for from $1 to $2; wolf skins for about $1, exclusive of the bounty, which was several dollars. So extensively was the hunt carried on that, in a few years, skins could no longer be obtained in paying quanti- ties. A few years after opening his provision store, Mr. Pratt sold out that branch of his stock, substituting in its place about $2,000

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

worth of drugs. He continued the drug store and saloon for many years, and, in his own language, " made lots of money at it." He owned and ran a steam muley saw-mill for about four years, soon after 1850. The mill was afterward owned by Cuykendal, Delaney, Lance, Pifer, Bacon and at present by George Hildebrand. In 1871, Mr. Pratt erected a large planing-mill, making all the machinery and apparatus himself. After running ten years (until the spring of 1880) it was sold to Anthony Harman, who now owns and man- ages it. Mr. Pratt is yet living in the town.

In 1850, a number of men with considerable capital at their command, concluded to build a foundry in New Washington. This intention met the warm approval of all the townspeople. All were interested in the success of the enter- prise, and looked anxiously for its completion. Carpenters were employed, quite a large build- ing was erected, and the furnace and all neces- sary implements were placed therein. Every- thing looked bright and promising. But alas ! to the disappointment and sorrow of all, the en- terprise collapsed ; not a stroke of work was done; the furnace and implements were re- moved ; the owners, like the prodigal son, " wasted their substance with riotous living," and the building, once so full of promise, was devoted to other uses. The failure produced no lasting impression on the townspeople, ex- cept, perhaps, to steel their hearts against intemperance and debauchery in any form. Various industries have arisen from time to time, and it has occasionally happened that they proved unprofitable, and the proprietors have been compelled to suspend business ; yet not one of them has failed so ingloriously as the foundry undertaking. The little city, like all publie marts, has met numerous disasters, and has had its "ups and downs." At first, its growth was slow-almost at a stand-still-and it was not until after the township was well settled and improved, and the farmers in pros-

perous circumstances, that the village began to increase in population to any noticeable extent. Soon after 1850, quite a number of new houses were erected ; several new industries arose ; tradesmen began to appear, and business inter- ests generally underwent a revival. This was not suddenly, but slowly, during a period of about ten years. It was not long before the census enumerator discovered that the village had over 100 inhabitants, and ten or twelve years afterward, 200 were announced. All town characteristics had increased in a corre- sponding degree, except, perhaps, the liquor traffic, which seemed to have taken the lead of other business in early years, and meant to keep it indefinitely. There has been no time since 1835, that liquor could not be had-for the money. And yet, those who imbibed were usu- ally orderly, taking their potations silently and enjoying (?) them silently. The population, not only of the town but of the township, has been largely German. Thus, this division of the county was blessed with a quiet, steady, in- telligent class of citizens. For a number of years, the townspeople have felt the need of a grist-mill nearer than the Huron and Sandusky Rivers ; so, in 1854, a man named Johnson was induced to build the present mill, which he did at a cost of about $4,000. The necessary steam apparatus and three sets of stone were placed in the building. Since its erection, the mill has had all the grinding it could do. It furnished excellent flour, especially of late years, and soon commanded a large patronage from the surrounding country. It is running actively at present, and considerable flour is shipped to other localities. The village has a large, commodious town-hall, the upper story being used by the Odd Fellows. It also has a jail that is said to be superior, in point of strength, to the one at Bucyrus.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 90

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034